• It is an admirable and enjoyable rip-off of Leone’s Dollar trilogy. We have Clint in the lead of course (this was his first American film after the trilogy and they even asked Leone to direct and he turned it down) and a vibrant and loud score from an Italian composer filled with guitars and harmonicas (this isn’t Morricone but Dominic Frontiere)
  • Clint is in charge but that supporting cast is superb (I’m indifferent to love interest Inger Stevens though)- Ed Begley, Ben Johnson, Bruce Dern, Hale Jr, Dennis Hopper, LQ Jones, the most interesting man in the word from the beer commercials Jonathan Goldsmith, and the Judge Pat Hingle
  • Premise of ox-box incident to open- stolen cattle sold to Clint so he’s stuck with evidence with forged or no bill of sale—traumatic violent opening that needs revenge (a theme for Eastwood- perhaps most notable in Josey Wales)—powerful- this is all before the opening credits
  • Zoom heavy but it’s 1968 so…
  • The supporting characters make such an impression in their little time—Johnson is strength and justice, Dern is an awful bastard, Hopper is insane
  • Mob rule and statement here in 1968- there are a bunch of white faces in montage yelling at Johnson to kill Hopper – everyone is mad about it except Clint and the black guy—hypocrisy- selling beer during hanging
  • Very heavy on close-ups- especially on Clint- smart choice by post
  • Set in 1889—simple plot-
  • Smartly sets up his ability to remember those who wronged him. “You have an eye for detail” – “I used to be law man”
  • Fizzles out a little for 15 minutes when the love story becomes the focus
  • Clint’s relationship with Hingle’s Complex relationship- he’s a good character
  • Very episodic ending
  • Recommend but not in top 10 of 1968